[]
And how cool is this?

But there is another, newly discovered, feature of dog
body language that may surprise attentive pet owners and
experts in canine behavior. When dogs feel fundamentally
positive about something or someone, their tails wag
more to the right side of their rumps. When they have
negative feelings, their tail wagging is biased to the
left.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/24/science/24wag.html
--
Melinda Shore - Software longa, hardware brevis -

Prouder than ever to be a member of the reality-based community

Melinda Shore wrote:
[]
And how cool is this?

Very cool! I had just finished reading the article via the Language
Log blog when your post showed up.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/24/science/24wag.html

Harriet's nub sometimes gets stuck to one side or the other (AKA
"the Boxer donut," because their bodies get stuck in a circle at the
same time). I'll have to pay closer attention to which direction it
points when it gets stuck.

Oh! Wait! We have a right-pointing nub with proto-donut:

http://cat-sidh.net/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-1019

--
Shelly
http://www.cat-sidh.net (the Mother Ship)
http://esther.cat-sidh.net (Letters to Esther)

(Melinda Shore) wrote in news:f0ntg0$c38$1
@panix2.panix.com:

[]
And how cool is this?

But there is another, newly discovered, feature of dog
body language that may surprise attentive pet owners and
experts in canine behavior. When dogs feel fundamentally
positive about something or someone, their tails wag
more to the right side of their rumps. When they have
negative feelings, their tail wagging is biased to the
left.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/24/science/24wag.html

Wow, that's fascinating! Thanks for posting it. I will begin my
observations (almost) immediately.

--
Catherine
& Zoe the cockerchow
& Queenie the black gold retriever
& Max the pomeranian
& Rosalie the calico cat

Interesting but here's a question. What does any one thinks it means when
the tail goes in twirls like the propeller blade of a helicopter? I never
thought a dog could do this till I got Buddy. When he seems really happy
his tail twirls and his butt wiggles.

Ceelste

"Melinda Shore" wrote in message
...
[]
And how cool is this?

But there is another, newly discovered, feature of dog
body language that may surprise attentive pet owners and
experts in canine behavior. When dogs feel fundamentally
positive about something or someone, their tails wag
more to the right side of their rumps. When they have
negative feelings, their tail wagging is biased to the
left.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/24/science/24wag.html
--
Melinda Shore - Software longa, hardware brevis -

Prouder than ever to be a member of the reality-based community

Celeste,
Jack's tail goes around in a circle at about 100 mph as if he should
be on a heli-pad. He sounds a lot like Buddy.
I was gonna ask the same question you did.


Be Free.....Judy

Howdy All,
My youngest dog has a helicopter tail. And it will go in either
direction. This from a Saluki :-)

Frank X. Morris http://community.webtv.net/Sulkhalil/ChimeandFriends

"Spot" wrote

Interesting but here's a question. What does any one thinks it means when
the tail goes in twirls like the propeller blade of a helicopter? I never
thought a dog could do this till I got Buddy. When he seems really happy
his tail twirls and his butt wiggles.

Ditto with Balim, an English cocker spaniel who seems to never stop twirling
or wiggling except when she's asleep.

--
Bob
http://www.kanyak.com

"Spot" wrote in news:YUSXh.2667$YI1.2287
@trndny04:

What does any one thinks it means when
the tail goes in twirls like the propeller blade of a helicopter?

Pure, unadulterated joy! Zoe gets the circular tail only when she is
deliriously happy.

--
Catherine
& Zoe the cockerchow
& Queenie the black gold retriever
& Max the pomeranian
& Rosalie the calico cat

In article YUSXh.2667$YI1.2287@trndny04, Spot wrote:
Interesting but here's a question. What does any one thinks it means when
the tail goes in twirls like the propeller blade of a helicopter?

I think it means that he wags his tails in circles - I
wouldn't read much into it beyond that. Crow does it too,
although she reserves it for when she's particularly
excited.
--
Melinda Shore - Software longa, hardware brevis -

Prouder than ever to be a member of the reality-based community

"Melinda Shore" wrote in message
...
[]
And how cool is this?

But there is another, newly discovered, feature of dog
body language that may surprise attentive pet owners and
experts in canine behavior. When dogs feel fundamentally
positive about something or someone, their tails wag
more to the right side of their rumps. When they have
negative feelings, their tail wagging is biased to the
left.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/24/science/24wag.html

Muttley seems to wag his tail (what there is of it, about 6"), about
equally both left and right. I don't know if he's ambidextrous, ambivalent,
ambiguous, or just politically independent

I'd say he just doesn't give a ****, but there are a few piles out back
that prove otherwise, and his tail isn't wagging when he produces them.

Paul and Muttley